An in depth look into Sutton’s newest recruit: Chris Haigh.
Sutton’s goalkeeper union has added a new member, with Chris Haigh putting pen to paper on a permanent switch from Chelmsford City.
Having worked with Chris Agutter already at Worthing, Haigh has already spoken on how excitement for reuniting with the Head Coach, fresh off a shot at promotion together last term.
Haigh’s footballing journey began as a young hopeful in the academy setup at Watford, then in the Premier League, where he worked under former Leeds United and Liverpool forward Harry Kewell in the Under-21s, during what was an important period in the Hornets’ history as they had won promotion to the top flight the previous season, ending an eight-year absence from English football’s pinnacle.
He later went on to join Gillingham after two years at Vicarage Road before working his way up non-league, opting to carve a football career by making the pathway through pyramid. This began with Northwood, signing for the Woods on the eve of the season after playing against them in a friendly, with Haigh going to appear five times for the club.
Further spells at Braintree Town, Merstham, East Grinstead Town and Maldon & Tiptree preceded a move to Heybridge Swifts, where he won his first taste of silverware, being voted as Player of the Season after helping them win the Isthmian North Play-Off Final in 2018/19. His reputation with non-league football continued to rise, with a switch to Concord Rangers seeing him contribute to FA Trophy success in 2019/20. The Beach Boys, who also had Lewis Simper on loan that year, overcame Slough Town, Maidstone United, Bath City, Leamington, Royston Town and Halesowen Town to reach the final, where Haigh notably won Man of the Match following an impressive performance at the home of English football, despite falling to defeat when a late Joshua Falkingham strike proved to be all that separated the Beach Boys and Harrogate Town.
Nonetheless, the goalkeeper had caught the eye, and led to a move to Ebbsfleet United in the summer of 2021. Chris kept nine clean sheets in his maiden campaign, including in wins over Dartford and Hampton & Richmond Borough, while also steering the Fleet successfully through a penalty shootout against Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup, and was rewarded for his form with a new contract ahead of the 2022/23 season.
He then went on to play a role in the Fleet’s title winning campaign in 2023 following a swift recovery from his leg break in the early stages of the campaign away at Eastbourne Borough and he went on to achieve the rare feat of earning two medals that season, one for the Fleet’s title win and one for Oxford City’s promotion-final victory after being emergency loaned to them for the final month of the campaign.
Haigh subsequently returned to the Hoops on loan again, featuring 18 times in their maiden campaign in the National League under Ross Jenkins as he remained at The MGroup Stadium for the entire season.
It would prove to be a disappointing year for Oxford though, who fell back into the sixth tier after just a single year when they finished bottom of Step One, and led to the 28-year old linking up with Agutter for the first time with a switch to Worthing, moving to the South Coast ahead of an exciting season at Woodside Park.
Indeed, Agutter guided the Rebels to a record-breaking 88 points and a shot at promotion, with Haigh keeping 12 clean sheets in 42 appearances, as well as conceding the seventh least number of goals with 58. Despite this though, Agutter’s Worthing fell short on a dramatic final day of the season, beating Enfield Town 5-1 to secure a fourth place finish, but a triumph that wasn’t enough after Truro City’s victory over St. Albans City to seal the title.
After Worthing also suffered play-off heartbreak, losing to eventual finalists Maidstone United in the elimination round, Haigh subsequently departed the club having lost his place to Lucas Covolan towards the end of the season, and was followed by a return to Essex when Chelmsford City came calling last summer. He has gone on to be a regular within the Clarets team this term, appearing 21 times as Angelo Harrop’s side sit 15th in the division, but has opted to cut his stint at the Melbourne Stadium short, with the opportunity to reunite with his former boss proving too good to turn down.
An offer from Sutton to become a player-coach at Gander Green Lane led to him handing in a transfer request at Chelmsford, something which was granted. Therefore, he will be able to put his UEFA B coaching badge to good use, returning south in a coaching capacity that will see him display an insatiable desire to expand his knowledge in the field, with Chris dedicated to mentoring and supporting aspiring players, while also providing invaluable guidance to help them reach their full potential. His time with the U’s will see him join forces with Jack Sims and David Aziaya within the goalkeeping union, adding depth and experience between the sticks.
